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Writer and editor Bruce Black began studying yoga five years ago, when his knees could no longer stand the stress of running. After taking classes for a few years, he started keeping a journal to explore his experiences on the mat. Out of his journal and his devotion to Anusara Yoga has emerged a book that delves into the nexus of yoga, writing, and life.

In Writing Yoga, Bruce begins by sharing tips he has learned along the way: the benefits of keeping a practice journal, how to select just the right blank book, writing at different times of day, how often, and more. He has organized the book, by theme, into chapters with guided writing exercises.

Part memoir, part writing guide, Bruce reflects on practice as life: the excitement of walking into his first yoga class, apprehension about bending backward, discomfort with body appearance, the yoga of family relationships, the exhilaration of coming into a headstand for the first time, deepening appreciation for his teachers, and waking up to the exquisite beauty of the world around him. And he weaves excerpts from his own journal throughout.

Bruce guides you in stepping onto your mat and picking up your journal with curiosity and commitment. He shows how your journal can become a good friend, a confidant, a tool to deepen your experience of asana and pranayama, and a mindfulness practice in itself.

News & Reviews

"A warm, compassionate, and intimate guide to the journey through words and yoga postures to the vastness that lies beyond them. Through his own personal explorations of yoga and journal-writing, Bruce Black illuminates the path of self-discovery, creativity, and transformation." —Anne Cushman, author of Enlightenment for Idiots: A Novel

"For anyone who’s looking for answers, Bruce Black’s Writing Yoga will absolutely help you find them—on the page, and on the mat." —August Gold, author of Prayer Partners

"I have been writing and studying yoga for years now but never thought to join these two passions until I read Bruce Black’s account of his own journey. He says yoga can be a catalyst for change. So can reading this honest, profound, and compassionate book!" —Louise Hawes, author of Anteaters Don’t Dream, Faculty, MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, Vermont College of Fine Arts

"The practice of yoga is a process of uncovering our thoughts, beliefs, and assumed limitations, be they physical, emotional, or mental. In this warm, personal book, Bruce Black reveals how his own journey in yoga and writing has brought clarity and direction to his life. Try his suggestions; I have. And see if you don’t feel more at ease and present with your life." —Judith Hanson Lasater, PhD, PT, yoga teacher and coauthor of What We Say Matters